They Were Never Photographed Together
How Forensic Analysis Proved Three Generations of Connection
Thomas Henry Hamall, 1922
Thomas Eugene Hamall, 1922
They Were Never Photographed Together
How Forensic Analysis Proved Three Generations of Connection
Look at these two photographs. A father and his son, both dressed formally, both standing at the same distinctive bridge in Riverside, Illinois. Both taken in 1922.
But they're in separate frames.
For a genealogist trying to prove that an 18-year-old attended his father's wedding—fifteen years after his parents' divorce—this presents a challenge. In genealogical research, we need more than "they both happened to be photographed at a pretty bridge." We need proof they were there on the same day, at the same event.
This is where forensic photo analysis transforms photographs from illustration into evidence.
For 87 years, three men named Thomas Hamall maintained a connection to one small cottage in Riverside, Illinois—despite divorce, distance, and death. But proving that connection required treating photographs not as pretty illustrations, but as documentary evidence that could be analyzed, corroborated, and verified.
Here's how we did it.
Meet the Three Thomas Hamalls
Thomas Henry Hamall at his wedding, 1922. This is the only photograph we have of the man who fought the Illinois Supreme Court for four years to protect a $300 cottage.
Thomas Henry Hamall (1880-1938)
Thomas Henry Hamall purchased 291 Lionel Road in Riverside, Illinois in 1911 for himself and his mother. When his ex-wife sued to seize it for a $2,500 judgment, he fought through four years of court battles, ultimately winning at the Illinois Supreme Court in 1928. The case—Hamall v. Petru—is still cited in Illinois property law today.
Thomas Eugene Hamall as a young professional. Born in 1904, separated from his father by divorce at age 3, he would inherit the cottage his father fought to protect.
Thomas Eugene Hamall (1904-1967)
Thomas Eugene Hamall was three years old when his parents divorced. He grew up with his mother and stepfather, even appearing in census records under his stepfather's surname (Thomas Hepp). His mother would divorce a second time just a few years later. Yet he attended his father's wedding in 1922, reclaimed his father's surname by 1930, and inherited the cottage in 1938—which he would claim as his legal residence during his own marital separation in 1940.
Thomas Kenny Hamall as a young professional. Born in 1932, he remembered childhood "Saturday visits" to "Riverside"—memories that would prove 100% accurate 70 years later.
Thomas Kenny Hamall (1932-2010)
Thomas Kenny Hamall visited the cottage as a child during his father's residence (1938-1941). After his parents' divorce, he moved to Miami with his mother and Kenny grandparents—1,200 miles from the cottage. But he never forgot it. In 1998, at age 66, he returned to Riverside to honor the memories.
The Challenge: Proving Connection Across Fracture
Three Thomas Hamalls. Two divorces. Geographic separation spanning Illinois to Florida to Washington DC. Decades of gaps where property records were lost to courthouse fires.
And photographs where the subjects were never actually photographed together.
But here's what we had:
1922: Two wedding photographs—father and son, same bridge, separate frames
1940-41: Photographs from an envelope marked "Riverside House"— several cottage views, father, and a dog, all at the cottage
1947: Two photographs at the U.S. Capitol—father visiting son during seminary, separate frames
In traditional genealogy, these might be filed as "nice illustrations" of people we already knew existed. But what if the photographs themselves could prove the connections? What if they could serve as primary documentary evidence?
That required forensic analysis.
The Evidence Converges: Father and Son at the Same Wedding
Two Separate Frames, One Shared Location
Thomas Henry Hamall, 1922
Thomas Eugene Hamall, 1922
Why It Matters
This established that Thomas Eugene knew the cottage and the Riverside community 16 years before he would inherit the property—showing continuous family connection despite divorce.
The Dog Doesn't Lie: Proving Shared Presence
Two Photographs, One Forensic Element
Thomas Eugene Hamall with the family dog on lawn chair at the cottage, circa 1940-1941.
The same dog, same lawn chair, same cottage, circa 1940-1941.
Why It Matters
This visual evidence corroborated 70-year-old memories and proved Thomas Kenny's childhood connection to the cottage—establishing the three-generation chain.
1,200 Miles for Connection: The Capitol Visit
Proving a Father Traveled Across America
Thomas Eugene and possible "cousin" at U.S. Capitol, 1947
Thomas Kenny alone, same location, same visit, 1947
Why It Matters
This demonstrated that despite divorce and distance, the father-son relationship endured—and the connection established at the cottage persisted through impossible fractures.
The Methodology: How to Conduct Forensic Photo Analysis
Based on these three cases, here's the step-by-step process for treating photographs as primary documentary evidence:
STEP 1: IDENTIFY SHARED ELEMENTS
Look for:
- Architectural features (bridge pillars, building details, distinctive structures)
- Landscape elements (trees, gardens, Olmsted designs)
- Animals (distinctive markings, breeds, collars)
- Objects (furniture, vehicles, specific items)
- Environmental factors (lighting, shadows, weather, season)
STEP 2: VERIFY LOCATION
- Cross-reference with historic photos of the location
- Identify distinctive architectural or landscape features
- Consult local historical societies
- Use historic preservation records
- Compare with documented designs (like Olmsted landscapes)
STEP 3: ESTABLISH TEMPORAL CORRELATION
- Analyze clothing styles and formality
- Examine photo paper stock and quality
- Note camera technology and techniques
- Check for dating on reverse
- Compare to other dated photos of subjects
STEP 4: DOCUMENT YOUR ANALYSIS
- Photograph or scan at high resolution
- Create annotated comparison images (arrows, callouts)
- Write detailed analysis of each shared element
- Note both what's present AND what's absent
- Consider alternative explanations
STEP 5: CORROBORATE WITH OTHER SOURCES
- Census records (for location and dates)
- City directories (for residences)
- Newspaper articles (for events)
- Family documents (letters, diaries)
- Oral history (but verify independently)
STEP 6: MEET GPS STANDARDS
For BCG compliance:
- Treat photos as primary sources (if contemporary)
- Classify as direct or indirect evidence
- Assess information quality (original vs. derivative)
- Document source reliability
- Show corroboration with other evidence types
The Results: 100% Verification
Thomas Kenny Hamall in later years. In 1998, he returned to Riverside to honor the memories —and preserved the photographs that would prove the entire three-generation story.
Using forensic photo analysis across these three cases, we achieved:
- Proved Thomas Eugene attended father's wedding (1922) despite divorce
- Proved father and son visited cottage together (1940-41) through shared dog element
- Proved father traveled 1,200 miles to visit son (1947) despite separation
- 100% oral history corroboration - every claim Thomas Kenny made was verified
- BCG Genealogical Proof Standard compliance - photos served as primary evidence
Why This Matters
For Genealogists:
Most genealogists treat photographs as illustration—nice visuals to accompany documented facts. But when records are lost (courthouse fires, gaps in documentation), photographs can serve as primary documentary evidence if analyzed forensically.
This is especially powerful for:
- Proving presence at events (weddings, funerals, gatherings)
- Establishing relationships (through shared occasions)
- Verifying oral history (turning memory into proof)
- Demonstrating continuity (across gaps in records)
For Families:
When your grandmother says "We used to visit the cottage every Saturday," forensic photo analysis can prove she was right—even 70 years later. It transforms family stories from legend into documented history.
When to Use This Technique
Best Applications:
- Subjects photographed separately but claimed to be at same event
- Family gatherings where group photos don't exist
- Events documented through individual portraits
- Oral history claims that lack documentary proof
- Properties where visual evidence establishes presence
Limitations:
- Requires distinctive shared elements (not just generic backgrounds)
- Works best with contemporary photographs (not later recreations)
- Needs corroboration from other source types
- Must rule out alternative explanations
Cautions:
- Don't overstate conclusions
- Document what you can prove vs. what you infer
- Consider photo manipulation (though less common in pre-digital era)
- Verify through multiple source types
Applications Beyond This Case
This forensic methodology can prove:
- Siblings at same event (wedding, funeral, family gathering)
- Ancestors at same location (shared architectural elements)
- Migration patterns (through photographic backgrounds)
- Occupational connections (workplace settings, tools, uniforms)
- Community ties (church, school, neighborhood)
- Property ownership (physical presence at documented locations)
The Bigger Picture
This case study proved that three men named Thomas Hamall—separated by divorce, distance, and death—maintained connection to one small cottage across 87 years.
But it proved something else too:
That photographs deserve more respect in genealogical research. That visual evidence, properly analyzed, can serve as primary documentation. That forensic techniques borrowed from other disciplines can transform how we prove difficult cases.
And perhaps most importantly: That family stories—even ones that seem impossible—can be proven true if we're willing to look at the evidence in new ways.
The Complete Three Thomas Hamalls Series
This post is part of a comprehensive case study documenting three generations of Thomas Hamalls, one cottage in Riverside, Illinois, and 130 years of family history proven through forensic analysis, legal documents, and oral history verification.
1. The Property War
How Thomas Henry Hamall fought a four-year legal battle to the Illinois Supreme Court to protect the cottage his mother helped him buy.
2. They Were Never Photographed Together
How forensic photographic analysis proved three generations of connections when subjects were captured in separate frames.
3. The Mystery Man
Using forensic ear analysis to identify Emmett John Holland in a 1947 photograph—20 years after he died and his memories were lost forever.
4. Mothers and Sons: A Working-Class Family Pattern
Three generations of mothers living with their sons—not dependence, but economic survival strategy in working-class America.
5. The Father Who Tried
Thomas Eugene Hamall's 23-year effort to maintain connection with his son despite divorce, distance, and the barriers of 1940s America.
6. Three Generations of Shrinking and Expanding
From Kate's six children to near-extinction to explosive survival—how child mortality, small families, and one generation's choice saved the family line.
Explore the Complete Case Study
View the Full BCG-Compliant Case Study →Explore the Complete Case Study
This forensic photo analysis was part of the comprehensive Three Thomas Hamalls case study, featuring 22 primary sources, legal documents, BCG-compliant methodology, and verified oral history across 87 years.
View Complete Case Study →Want to see where it all began? The Three Thomas Hamalls story starts with Owen Hamall—a seven-year mystery spanning three countries. Explore the Owen Hamall case study to see how one census entry led to uncovering four generations of family history.
Does Your Family Have Photos That Could Prove More?
Many families have photographs of people who "were never photographed together"—but forensic analysis can prove they attended the same events, visited the same places, and maintained connections that family narratives obscured.
If your photographs show separate subjects at distinctive locations, shared elements, or family gatherings without group photos, forensic analysis can transform illustration into evidence.
Turn Your Family Photos Into Documentary Evidence
Photographs deserve more than photo albums. Through forensic analysis, architectural verification, and BCG-compliant methodology, we can prove what your photographs have been trying to tell you all along.
Storyline Genealogy specializes in cases where:
- Subjects were photographed separately but attended same events
- Distinctive locations or shared elements prove connection
- Oral history needs photographic corroboration
- Family gatherings lack group photos but individual portraits exist
- BCG-compliant proof standards require primary visual evidence
Key Takeaways
- ✓ Photographs can serve as primary documentary evidence—not just illustration
- ✓ Forensic analysis transforms separate frames into proof of shared presence
- ✓ Shared elements (architecture, animals, objects) prove connection
- ✓ Meets BCG standards when properly documented and corroborated
- ✓ Turns family stories into proven history
About the Researcher
Mary Hamall Morales is a professional genealogist specializing in complex family fractures, legal records research, and storyline methodology. She transforms family legends into documented history through rigorous analysis of primary sources—proving that the stories worth telling are the ones that can be proven true.
Storyline Genealogy
